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I was idly pondering the other day, about why the pace and rhythm of life are different in “northern, cold-weather” cultures vs. “southern, warm-weather” cultures (globally speaking).

(Warning: Extremely Generalized Generalizations ahead! My opinions in this post are for contemplation & discussion only, as opposed to me being a source of accurate factual details about other cultures.)

Tropical or semitropical places, the cultures tend to have a reputation for being relaxed, laid-back. Non-urgent vibe regarding work.

Places that have marked seasonal differences; winter and summer; dormant winter season … the cultures tend to have a reputation for “work work work, urgent urgent urgent” mentality.

I used to think the tropical cultures w

(to be continued — going across the street to have a glass of wine with my dear friend S.)

(The next day.) OK, I’m back!

I used to think that the tropical cultures were relax-paced because there was food growing year-round and thus no rush to harvest food and preserve it for the long winter. And possibly also because of the heat which makes rushing around impractical.

And those things may be true. But the other day, it also occurred to me that rushing around and urgency, in a place where nature exhibits year-round growth and fertility, would actually be a maladaptive trait. Because in a tropical or semitropical climate, there is always work that could be done; always something to do. Fruit to pick, vegetation to cut back; whatever. So a rush-around-oriented, “Type A” person in such a place would be very prone to burnout.

(to be continued; sipping coffee and enjoying the slant of the light on my porch and getting ready to crack some Florida-grown macadamia nuts for breakfast)

Meanwhile, in places with cold winters, the “Type A” mentality could be seen as somewhat adaptive. Rush around all spring and summer to put food by for the long winter.

In so-called “modern” consumerist society, where lights blaze 24-7 and we exist in a climate-controlled bubble year-round, it’s feasible and considered desirable to bust ass work work work, urgent urgent urgent 365 days a year; there is no winter dormancy slowdown period for us “modern” humans.

In such an artificial sub-universe as this one that we “modern, advanced” humans have co-created, it is easy to forget that in the olden days in the northern, “winter” cultures, the dark cold season, while hard, was also in many ways a period of rest — for people and for the land. The late sunrises, early sunsets, frozen ground lent themselves well to a fallow mode. Indoor projects such as mending, knitting, planning could be done, so it’s not that no work got accomplished in nature’s downtime season. It was just less hectic. Thus even in the northern cultures, people got a break from rush-rush-rush urgent-urgent-urgent. There was sitting by the fireplace; telling stories; playing music.

I think it’s no accident that some of my favorite suppliers of yarn and other knitting/crocheting materials are located in cold-winter places like Nebraska and Minnesota.

My nutshell conclusion: In cultures not infected by the relentless pace and rhythm of consumerism / capitalism, people (and the land) always got to rest, one way or the other. But in the harsh “modern economy,” colonized world, people and the land aren’t meant to rest, ever.

I see a voluntary scaled-back lifestyle (which many of us are adopting) as one way that a person (and household, community, etc.) can take back their free-agency from all this.

Further Exploration:

• “Quiet Quitting” video-post on TikTok by wetheearthseed. ” … what are we giving up for these luxuries?”

• “15 Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture“ article & website by Tema Okun. This list has been such an enlightening window through which to see with fresh eyes the culture we are swimming in. I’ve had so many lightbulb moments over the past few months with the help of this list. One of the pillars of WSC is … wait for it … “sense of urgency.”

• For excellent commentary and experiential clarity on the 15 pillars of WSC, also check out two of my favorite TikTok creators, desireebstephens and RoyalStarDefiant.

• UBUNTU Contributionism: A Blueprint for Human Prosperity – Michael Tellinger. Someone in one of my online groups mentioned him in passing; I have only just now started googling so I can’t comment authoritatively. But, any problematic aspects aside (such as what seems like cultural appropriation of the word ubuntu), supposedly he believes we can have a society where everyone can live well while only having to work 3 hours a week, and those 3 hours of work are done in one’s own community. Makes sense.

Leaking septic tanks; flooding causing toilets to back up; etc. etc. …

This is extra frustrating because sewage should not exist in the first place! We should not be peeing and pooping into water!

Technologies have existed for decades (millennia actually). Even as we speak, many boaters and RVers all over the country and world (also festivals and convergences too) are using essentially waterless toilets that utilize beneficial microbes, dehydration, and other natural means to turn “waste” into pathogen-free compost.

If you are not familiar already, I encourage you to check out: #CompostToilets #Humanure @Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins

Sewage should not have to exist!! Especially frustrating at a time like this when there’s excess water for the ground to absorb.

These two videos from Water Stories are under 3 minutes each. Nice animation, easy to understand the concepts; very-well-invested minutes of your time and attention.

1) The Full Water Cycle: “Most of us have been taught an over simplified story of the water cycle. The full water cycle is much more complicated and interconnected than what we learned in school. Here, we tell the whole story.”

2) The Watershed Death Spiral: “Human activity has disturbed the Full Water Cycle, resulting in the increasingly common and severe Flood, Drought, and Fire we are experiencing; as well as rising global temperatures and extreme climate. This is how we got here…”

Suggestion: Forward the text of this post, or even just the video links, to your city commissioners, public-works department, and anyone else who works on the frontlines of water issues in your community and region. Also post in your eco groups on social media. We need to get this awareness out there!

A huge Thank You to Water Stories for making the job of us ecosocial activist/educators a lot easier with their videos and webinars and other content.

Speaking of which, Water Stories has a “Permaculture Water Summit” coming up today and tomorrow, and there may still be spaces open. The summit is online and it’s free to attend.

Sorry for the last-minute notice! Good news though: Water Stories has a major course coming up in January. It’s called the “Water Stories Core Course” and is for people who are or who seek to become water-restoration practitioners, land stewards, and water advocates. Visit the link to sign up for the waitlist.

And here’s the front page of the Water Stories website, where you can sign up for their email newsletter and get more timely updates of their doings.

“Modern” is not always better than old. “Modern” can be very fragile in addition to being high-maintenance, expensive, and bad for people & ecosystems. Example: Asphalt roads need constant maintenance, while some dirt roads have been in continuous use for decades or even centuries with minimal to no maintenance.

Further exploration:

• Google “vine bridges”; “rope bridges”; “living bridges”

• Book: Lo-TEK Design by Radical Indigenism, by Julia Watson. “TEK” stands for Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Mow-and-blow grass-cutter companies should not be allowed to call themselves “landscapers.” Landscapers are actually supposed to know and care about plants.

(This is a comment I made in response to what had to be the umpteen-millionth post I’ve seen about so-called “landscapers” mowing or weedwhacking people’s garden beds. Personally I think sometimes it’s a passive-aggressive tactic designed to make customers give up on gardening and just turn their whole property into a conveniently rectangular mass that the mow & blow bro’s can just run over mindlessly and profitably with their giant turf-tanks.)

I have nothing against people trying to make a living, but call yourself what you are.

Better yet, up your skills and start actually learning about plants. There’s a LOT of un-served demand out there for real landscapers. Solo-practitioner model with occasional assistance from mechanized-equipment operators can work well. I’ve seen this model being implemented successfully by both native and edible landscaping professionals.

And for those of you who know how to care for plants, grow food, native plants, etc., you may not realize it but you have a valuable skill that you can turn into a lifelong livelihood. The demand is only going to increase.

(A macadamia orchard had its refrigeration / power knocked out in the hurricane and was seeking to sell 200 pounds of nuts right away. I felt inspired to buy the entire lot. This was a total investment of $1,400, which I expect to recoup quickly. Here is the Facebook post I made about it):

Hey Neighbors!
Do you like macadamia nuts? Did you know we grow macadamia nuts here in Florida? Yes we do!!

To help promote healthy food & boost our Florida farmers, I have just purchased a bulk quantity 200 pounds of macadamia nuts from Brackins Macadamia Orchard. (Located in Plant City which is about 120 mi from Daytona Beach.)

These nuts are absolutely exquisite!! If you have never had macadamia nuts fresh from the shell you are in for a treat!

I am offering these luscious & nutritious nuggets at my cost, $7 per pound which includes the transport! (Yes I got to meet the young farmer in person! She’s so nice!)

Bring your own cup, box, cloth bag, or other reusable container.

#EatLocal #SupportFloridaFarmers #FoodResilience

PS. If you found this post tasty, please follow/Like Brackins Macadamia Orchard‘s page to keep up with all their offerings! Also I suggest you join the group Florida Farm Finder – Small FL Farms are Kind of A Big Dill, to find the many other Florida farmers and ranchers who would be delighted to have you / your neighborhood / your congregation or school etc as a customer.

PPS. Visit my Facebook post to see a photo of the beautiful nuts in their pre-shelled state! So rich-brown and shiny-smooth!

From email from fellow members: “It just didn’t seem right to hold a plant sale when so many people have so much more on their minds.”

My response:

Hi Lovelies! I totally see the wisdom of not having the plant sale at <community venue> if there are going to be people trying to use that space to apply for FEMA assistance etc at that time.

That said, regarding people having things on their minds other than plants right now … Even as I type this, I hear someone running a LAWN MOWER. Yes, believe it or not. The turfgrass army does not rest even at a time like this. And you can bet that neither do the developers, who are wrecking Florida with garish waxy big-box plant “landscaping.” 

The mow-and-blow industry and tree-chopping industry do not give it one minute’s rest even in times of disaster. 

I understand if MEMBERS need to focus on other things right now. But we should not delude ourselves into thinking we are doing the public some sort of kindness by calling off our sale to some indefinite future month.

I’m also thinking of the members who were looking forward to getting plants out the door this weekend. Cultivating plants takes a lot of time and resources, and now members will have to keep their plants indefinitely.

I will do what I can to take plants off people’s hands right now. I’m looking into options such as renting a box truck to pick up plants from members, and take them and sell them at the Downtown Daytona Beach farmers market. Several friends and I have landscaping businesses and want/need the plants for our clients’ yards. If this turns out to be feasible I would pay the chapter upfront for the plants, and sell them at my leisure. 

Question: Anyone have a rough idea of the approximate total sale value of the plants? Roughly how much revenue have we made at our past sales? 

💚🌏🦋
Jenny Nazak

Postscript: As if to underscore the validity of my point, one of the big mow-and-blow contractors just now drove by in their pickup truck towing their “tree hearse.” (“Tree hearse” is what I call those monster trailer things that house the big ride-on monster mowers, blowers, edger/whackers, and that also are sometimes used to haul away precious biomass that the land needed to keep, and that always seem to be decorated with some green, leafy-looking logo and doublespeak name that belies their mission of barbering and manicuring the entire darn planet to death.)

UPDATE: Several other people from the chapter had great ideas. It looks likely we will be having a combination of virtual sale and perhaps a small trunk sale at the members’ meeting.